Knitting machine loop adjusting means



H. E. sTouT E1- AL ,2,220,807

KNITTING MACHINE LOOP ADJUSTINGVMEANS Nov. 5, 1940.

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KNITTING MACHINE LooP ADJUSTING MEANS Filed July 18, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet. 5

Nov. 5, 1940. H. E. s'roUT ErAL KNITTING MACHINE LOOP ADJUSTING MEANS Filed July 18,- 195s f 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Puo ro Tues tions, and other eects.

Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATESi KNITT'ING MACHINE LOOP ADJ USTING MEANS Harold E. Stout and Daniel B. Kitzmiller, Reading, Pa.; said Kitzmiller assigner to said Stout Application July 18, 1938, lSerial No. 219,846

19 Claims.

Our invention relates toloop adjusting means for knitting machines, and particularly to such means as applied to straight or full fashioned stocking knitting machines.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide means for automatically regulating the length of the knitted loops to produce a stocking knit to a specified number of courses per inch irrespective of temperature changes, yarn and moisture varia- By so doing, stockings of uniform length can be produced thereby reducing the number of seconds or waste.

A further object of our invention is the provision of mechanism which can be applied to full fashioned knitting and other machines of the character or types in general use and which will operate in an e'icient and practical manner.

further object of our invention is the provision of mechanism of the character and for the purpose stated which will be of simple, strong and durable construction and which by means of its saving in the cost of producing the stocking will prove economical, useful and necessary.

To accomplish the objects stated, we focus a light beam upon the knitted fabric close to the needle line. The shadow of the yarn forming loops is then enlarged through a lens system and projected upon a master plate with holes spaced the correct pitch desired, proportional to the enlargement. The master plate is slidably mounted for ensuring registration of the holes with the shadows or images of the loops by movement imparted to the plate from the cam shaft. This motion takes place while the yarn is being laid across the noses of the sinkers. While this action is taking place the fabric is not in motion thus insuring greater accuracy. Photo-electric cells disposed behind the master plate are aected in accordance with variations in the size of the loops as the shadows pass over the holes. The impulses created are then relayed to an automatically adjusted regulating motion.

The regulating motion through a system of pawls and ratchets varies the distance between the spring beard needles and the presser edge thereby making longer or shorter loops as desired. It can be seen that in a stocking of say 1900 courses, a variation in the loop size of 1/1000 part of an inch would cause a variation of 1%@ inches on the finished product.

To accomplish this minute variation of the regulating motion we provide an arrangement of pawls and ratchets which are selected by the impulse from the photo-electric cell through a system of relays to magnetic coils or solenoids 01. fissm mounted on the adjusting arm. On the micrometer adjusting screw shaft we have mounted two ratchets with the teeth in opposite directions with pawl means to operate each. This is to increase or decrease the size of the loop according to the direction ratcheted. After the selection of the proper pawl is `made the movement of the pawl and subsequent rotation of the ratchet is accomplished through the rocking motion of the adjusting arm against a xed stop.

We make use of the chain motion, as on present machines, and cams placed so as to open the circuit when desired, thus rendering the system inactive while knitting loose courses, etc.

Also the light source may be pivotally mounted for' swinging it clear of the knitting field when inserting the welt bar and removing stockings, and the lens system is also easily swung clear of the knitting i'leld by the operator when changing needles, etc.

Our invention further comprises loop regulating mechanism for full fashioned stocking and other knitting machines, embodying novel features of construction and combination of parts, substantially as described and Yclaimed and as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a transverse or cross-sectional View of a full fashioned stocking 'knitting machine embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a portion of the machine.

Fig. 3 shows a detail View taken through the machine.

Fig. 3a. is a detail enlarged sectional view of the master plate.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the loop regulator.

Fig. 4a shows adetail section View taken on line Ala-lla. of Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 shows a front elevation of the loop regulator.

Fig. 6 shows a sectional View taken on a line 6--6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 shows a sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 shows a detail sectional view taken Aon line 8 8 0f Fig. 4.-.

Fig. 9 shows wiring diagram for controlling the regulating motion which regulates the size of the knitting loop.

Fig. 10 shows an enlarged view of the knitted fabric as projected on the master plate.

Fig. 11 is a similar view indicating the relation of -long loops to the master plate openings.

Fig. 12 is a view, similar to Fig. 11, indicating the relation of short loops to the master plate openings.

In the drawings the same reference characters are used to indicate the same parts in all the views of the drawings.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a stocking blank portion I is indicated in outline between a needle bank 2 and a draw off reel 3 which exerts the proper tension on the fabric for knitting. The stocking is held in a horizontal position by sinkers 4 and knockover bits 5 while the needles on a needle bar 6, through vertical and horizontal movements in conjunction with the sinkers, perform the operation of forming the knitted loops.

Mounted on the machine preferably the front bed 1, is a bracket 8, on which is pivotally mounted a sleeve 9, in which is fastened a tube I, on the outer end of which is mounted `a light source I I, with condensing lens I2, which focuses a light beam upon the knitted fabric: I. The light source being -pivotally mounted can be easily swung out of active position While the operator is performing certain operations on the stocking. To position the light source properly in its Iactive and inactive positions we have provided in bracket 8, sliding pin I3, under pressure of spring I4, with pin having a taper end for centering on holes I5 in sleeve 9. Electrical contacts A are provided as shown in Fig. 3, for conducting current to the light source. As the light beam passes through the knitted fabric I, the projected image passes through magnifying lens I3, which is mounted in sleeve I1. On the upper end of `this sleeve and directly below fabric I is fastened an aperture plate I8 to provide a smooth surface for the material to slide over. This plate has a small hole to allow the light beam to pass through. Mounted directly beneath lens I3 is provided prism I9 designed to direct the light beam 29 through a tube 2i, which is pivotally mounted on arms 22,

' by pins 23, on bracket 24, fastened to front bed 1.

The ltube 2| is held in position directly beneath the fabric by tension spring 25, against adjustable stop screw 26. The lens system may be moved to inactive position out of the knitting field by pulling handle 21, until collar 28, is hooked behind catch plate 29, with slot 39. The purpose of swinging the lens system out of position is to facilitate the replacing of needles and inserting the welt bar.

As the light beam 20 passes through tube 2l, it is thrown upon a master plate 3|, in which there are two holes 32 and 33 (Fig. 10). These two holes are spaced apart the distance from one loop to the next according to the enlargement or magnification desired. Different sets of holes are provided for the different number of courses or pitches per inch desired. The distance between the hole centers in inches is equal to one (l) divided by the courses per inch times the ratio of enlargement. Directly beneath holes 32 and 33 are two prisms 34 and 35 through which the light beam passes to photo-electric cells 36 and 31.

In Fig. 10, the loop is shown to the exact length as per a specified number of courses per inch. Fig. 11 shows a loop which, through Variations in yarn, temperature changes affecting the vital points on the machine, etc., has been formed long thereby making fewer courses per inch than specified. As the shadows of the loops pass over holes 32 and 33 the shadow of the loop portion 38 passes over hole 33 first thereby creating an electric impulse in photo-electric cell 31. When the loop is short as in Fig. 12 the projected shadow of a loop portion 39 passes over hole 32 first thereby creating an impulse in photo-electric cell 36. It is through the impulses created in the photo-electric cells 36 and 31, that we increase or decrease the size of the loops in the knitted stocking I to conform to a standard number of courses per inch 'as specified.

These electric impulses are carried from the photo-electric cells 36 and 31 to relays 40 and 4I, Fig. 9, as of the front and back contact separate circuit type. Two sets of contacts open and two sets close when coils 42 and 43 are energized. Contacts 44 and 45 are normally open, land contacts 46 and 41 are normally closed. To illustrate: Suppose the loops are being knit short as in Fig. 12, the shadow of the yarn 39 first interrupts the light beam passing through hole 32 creating an impulse in photo cell 36 the current then passing to relay 49 energizing coil 42 clos ing Contact 44 and circuit 48 thereby energizing magnet 49. As contacts 44 on relay 4I) are closed, contacts 46 on the other end are opened, thereby breaking circuit 50 Iand keeping magnet 5I from being energized which would occur when the shadow of the next loop Y52, Fig. 12, passes over hole 33.

This principle works the opposite way When the loop has a tendency to get long as shown in Fig. 11.

When the loop is exactly the correct length (as shown in Fig. 10), the photo-electric cells receive simultaneous impulses. The impulses pass to the respective relays 40 and 4I, and energize both coils 42 and 43, thereby breaking contacts 44 and 45, and circuits 48 and 50, leaving magnets 49 and 5I, inert.

One method of adjusting the loop regulating mechanism in accordance with variations in the lengths of the loops, is to provide a master plate 3| disposed in fixed position for cooperation with the shadows of the movable fabric loops as each new course of loops i-s cast from the needles.

Another method is to mount the master plate 3l on a slide member 53 provided with a gib 54. By sliding the plate 3l, the holes 32 and 33 are required to traverse the shadows of the loops; this action occurring, in one direction of the sliding movement of the plate, while the circuit controlling the light source is energized, and, in the opposite direction, while this circuit is deenergized.

Means for sliding the plate, comprises levers 55 and`5' pivotally mounted on a pin 51, a connecting rod 58 pivotally connected to the lever 56 and to a lever 63, through yokes 59 at the ends of the rod 58, and a cam follower 62 cooperating with a cam 60 disposed on a stationary part of the machine frame.

Because of the closeness of the holes in master plate 3l, we have mounted in housing 65 the 90 prisms 34 and 35 (one for each hole) for transmitting the light effects to the photo-electric cells 36 and 31 also fastened to slide 53.

At times it is necessary to knit loose courses in the stocking. This is done to make easier the insertion of the welt bar and also when topping the leg on the transfer bar for insertion in the footer. By having a normally closed switch 61 in the electric feed line 68 the current can be broken at ,any time desired. The correct time to perform this operation can be controlled automatically, as from the usual chain motion. By ybreaking the circuit when knitting loose courses there `can loe no change made in the setting of the regulating motion.

To avoid changes in the lsetting or adjustment 75 'of the regulating motion by action of the photoelectric cells when the fabric is in motion, as when the loops are being cast off the needles, a normally open switch H8, in the feed line, and operated as through a connection, such as the rod 58, to the cam shaft 6l, renders the system inactive until this switch is closed.

As indicated in Fig. 1, a regulating arm 89 is pivotally mounted on, and relative to, .a regulating shaft il that is journaled in bearings Il fastened to the front beam l2 of the machine. Motion is imparted to this arm through roller i3 and cam 'l on cam shaft 8|. An adjusting arm i5 is'fastened to shaft 'I8 for transmitting the motion to the knitting field. On arm 15 is hooked a spring I6 exerting pressure on roller 73. On adjusting arm 'i5 is fastened a toothed dial TI.

'Regulating lever i8 is fastened to adjusting screw 'i9 (see Fig. 4) threaded in adjusting arm 75. The regulating lever 18 is held in position set by sprinfI plunger 88 engaging the teeth in dial l1. Extending 'through the center of the adjusting screw 'I8 is a micrometer :adjusting screw 8l on the front end of which is fastened a tooth wheel B2 with spring plunger 83 in regulating lever 'i8 to keep the screw fromA turning. Parts 69 to 83 correspond to parts employed in standard machines.

On the front end of the micrometer adjusting spindle 8l we have mounted our automatic regulating device. To accomplish this we use two ratchets 84 and 85, mounted with their teeth in opposite directions. These ratchets are fastened to the toothed wheel 82, and the micrometer adjusting screw 8i. On the outer end of this screw there are two swinging arms 8S and 8l, on which are mounted two pawls 88 and 89 for cooperation with the ratchets 84 and 85, respectively. 'Ihese pawls pivot on studs 88 and 9i, and are normally held out of Contact with ratchets 84 and 85, by springs 92 and S3.

On swinging arm 843, is mounted a bracket' 94, to which is secured a magnet 49. On swinging `arm 8l, is also mounted a bracket 95, to which is secured a magnet 5i. The purpose of these magnets is to pull pawls 88 and 89, into contact with ratchets 85. [and 85. When one of these pawls is pulled into contact with its ratchet it is held there by hook 98 on a corresponding nger 91 (Fig. 8). These fingers pivot on studs S8 and are held against pawls 88 and 89 by the action of spring 88. Hence as pawls 88 and 89 yare pulled into contact with ratchets 84 and 85, the correspending finger 9'! will hold the selected pawl in contact with its ratchet until released at the end of the ratcheting stroke by pin 180 on cam bar lill. As explained in connection with the relay system only one pawl can be selected at a time. As the adjusting arm 15 moves forwlard and backward once with each knitted course in the stocking, we utilize this motion to change the setting of the micrometer adjusting screw 8l if it is necessary to do so. This is accomplished by cam bar IUI, slidable vertically on bracket E82, fastened to adjusting arm l5. As the cam bar hits adjustable stop 183, on the bracket |84 fastened to fro-nt beam l2, the downward movement of the cam bar is arrested. As the motion of the y adjusting arm i5 continues, the cam surface i235, on the cam bar IDI, wedges between the two swinging arms 86 and 87, which are always held against the cam bar by spring EGE. The swinging iarms pivoting on the micrometer adjusting shaft 8i, impart a rotary motion to the pawls 88 and 89. This motion must be enough to ratchet one tooth on either ratchet 84 or 85.-v Near the end of the upward stroke pin [08 on cam bar IBI, trips one of the fingers 91, releasing the corresponding pawl 88 or 89. A spring |81 keeps the cam bar against adjustable stop 183. A retaining collar H18 is provided to keep the various parts in position on vthe micrometer adjusting shaft 8|.

Although we have shown and described a particular form of our invention, changes may be affected therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-ofi` means, loop-regulating mechanism, and means including light-sensitive vmeans affected by loops close to the needles for adjusting said loop-regulating mechanism.

2. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including' a needle bank, fabric tension take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism, means for producing images of loop portions close to the needles, and means including lightsensitive means affected by said limages 'for adjusting said loop-regulating mechanism.

3, In a knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism, means for producing magnied images of loop portions close to the needles, and means including light-.sensitive means aifected by said images for adjusting said loop-regulating mechanism.

4. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-'off means, loop-regulating mechanism, a loop-length standard for comparison with loops close to the needles, means for producing a light.A

effect in accordance with said comparison, and means including light-sensitive means affected by said light effect for adjusting said loopregulating mechanism.

5. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism, means for projecting a light beam carryingimages of opposite-end loop portions close to the needles, a loop-length standard having aper-` tures for passing the respective image portions of said beam, means controlled by the machine for moving said standard to ensure register of said apertures with said respective beam portions, and means including light-sensitive means.

affected by light from said respective beam portions fo-r adjusting said loop-regulating' mechanism.

6. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism, a light-producing element for directing a beam on loops close to the needles, a light-sensitive element subject to light from said beam as affected by said loops, at least one of said elementsl having active position in the knitting field, means for moving one or both of said elements from said position to inactive position out of the knitting field, and means controlled by said light-sensitive element for adjusting said loopregulating mechanism.

7. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-olf means, loop-regulating mechanism, and means for adjusting said loop-regulating mechanism including a pair of light-sensitive elements, and means for directing light effects from loop portions at the ends of a loop close to the needles toward said elements, respectively.

8. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism, and means for adjusting said loop-regulating mechanism including a pair of light-sensitive elements disposed a predetermined distance apart, means for receiving light eifects from loop portions at the ends of a loop close to the needles, means for maintaining said light effects close to each other from said receiving means for a predetermined distance toward said elements, and means for causing said effects -to diverge at the end of said distance toward said elements, respectively.

9. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism, means for adjusting said loop-regulating mechanism by minute increments, and means including light-sensitive means alTected by loops close to the needles for actuating said adjusting means.

10. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism, means including electro-responsive means for adjusting said loop-regulating mechanism, means including light-sensitive means aiected by loops close to the needles for opening and closing the circuit of said electro-responsive means, and means for opening and closing said circuit.

11. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism, means including electro-responsive means for adjusting said loop-regulating mechanism, means including light-sensitive means affected by loops close to the needles for opening and closing the circuit of said electro-responsive means, and means for opening said circuit during the production of loose courses.

12. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism, a source at one side of the fabric take-off path for directing a light beam toward the fabric close to the needles, and means for controlling adjustment of said loop-regulating mechanism including light-sensitive means affected by a light effect of said beam at the other side of the fabric.

13. In a knitting machine, loop-formingmechanism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-01T means, loop-regulating mechanism, means including a pair of electro-responsive devices for oppositely controlling adjustment of said loop-regulating mechanism, respectively, and means including light-sensitive means aiected by loops close to the needles for actuating one or the other of said devices accordingly as said loops are longer or shorter, respectively, than a selected length and maintaining said devices inactive accordingly as the loops are of the selected length.

14. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism, means including a pair of electro-responsive devices for oppositely controlling adjustment of said loop-regulating mechanism, respectively, means including light-sensitive means affected by' loops close to the needles for actuating one or the other of said devices, respectively, accordingly as the loops are longer or shorter than a selected length and maintaining said devices inactive accordingly as the loops are of the selected length, and means controlled by the regulating movement of said loop-regulating mechanism for adjusting the same as controlled by said electroresponsive means.

15. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism, and means including light-sensitive means aiected by corresponding bights of loops in next adjacent courses close tothe needles for adjusting said loop-regulating mechanism.

16. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism including main and micrometer adjusting means, and means including light-sensitive means afiected by loops close to the needles for adjusting said micrometer adjusting means.

17. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-01T means, loop-regulating mechanism including a micrometer adjusting screw, a pair of oppositely directed ratchets secured to said screw, a pair of arms pivotally mounted relative to each other about the axis of said screw, pawls pivotally mounted on said arms spring biased away from said ratchets, electromagnetic means on said arms for engaging the pawls to the ratchets,

latching means on said arms for holding said pawls engaged to the ratchets, means responsive to the loop-regulating motion for imparting ratcheting motion to said arms for said pawls and for releasing said latching means, and means including light-sensitive means affected by loops close to the needles for controlling ysaid electro- `magnets.

18. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-off means, and means for maintaining substantially uniform lengths of successive fabrics of the same number of courses, comprising loopregulating mechanism, and means including light-sensitive means affected by loops close to the needles for controlling adjustment of said loop-regulating mechanism.

19. In a full fashioned stocking blank knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, blank tension take-oi means, and means for maintaining successive blanks of the same number of courses of substantially the same length, including loop-regulating mechanism embodying a micrometer screw, means including electro-responsive means for reversely adjusting said screw by small increments, means for directingva beam of light toward a postion on the blanks close to the needles, and means including light-sensitive means controlled by light from said beam as affected by loops at said position for controlling said electro-responsive means.

HAROLD E. STOUT. DANIEL B. KITZMILLER. 

